Immigration Minister John McCallum is calling last night’s pepper-spraying of a group of Syrian refugees an “isolated incident.”

“I do not think this one isolated incident will change the impression that both Canadians and the rest of the world have about our ability to integrate refugess.” said McCallum at his Markham office on Saturday.

“The great majority of Canadians are strongly in favor of a multicultural society in which all communities and religions are accepted”

Between 15 and 30 people were sprayed at a welcoming ceremony in Vancouver, Friday night. Police say a man rode by on a bicycle and pepper sprayed a crowd gathered at the Muslim Association of Canada Centre.

City police said a man wearing a white hoodie apparently rode by on a bicycle and sprayed the group, including some young children.

A number of people were treated on scene, but there was no word of any serious injuries.